Courtesy of Norfolk State Athletic Communications


NORFOLK, Va. – The coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of not just all collegiate spring sports seasons, but also all off-season practices and team workouts for the time being. That includes spring football practice and intrasquad scrimmages.

In lieu of reports from spring practice, NSUSpartans.com will instead give a breakdown of each position grouping for Spartan football in the coming months. Last week featured a look at the receivers and tight ends. This week is a breakdown the offensive line.

After getting out of the gate to a 1-5 start last year, the Spartan football team won four of its last six games, with the two losses (at Bethune-Cookman, vs. S.C. State in overtime) coming down to the final minutes. Perhaps no position group at Norfolk State embodied the mid-season turnaround more than the offensive line. In the final six games of the year, the Spartans averaged 194.7 rushing yards per game, topping the 200-yard mark twice. For the season, the Spartans finished finish third in the MEAC in rushing offense (144.7 ypg), their highest finish since the MEAC championship season of 2011. NSU ranked 10th in the MEAC in rushing the two years prior to 2019.

NSU ranked third in the conference in total offense en route to its highest-scoring season as a Division I program (28.9 points per game).

Led by first-year offensive line coach Brandon Torrey, the Spartan linemen placed a school-record four players on the All-MEAC teams. Tackle Kenneth Kirby was a first-team All-MEAC pick, center Dominic Jordan and guard Justin Redd were second-team selections, and guard Jalen Powell was voted to the third team.

"I think the guys' chemistry finally connected well as the year went along," Torrey said. "It took them some time to pick up on my style as a coach, what was being taught and what was expected. Once they became more consistent, we looked better and better."

The good news for Torrey and the Spartans: seven of the Spartans' top eight linemen, and four of five starters, are back for the 2020 season. Only Jordan is lost from last year's group. All told, returning linemen have accounted for 119 career starts. Kirby and Powell have started all 34 games in their careers, while Redd has started 17 straight.

Kirby graded out at 96 percent on his blocking assignments last year. Torrey is expecting the Spartans' left tackle – one of four fifth-year seniors on the line – to contend for MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year honors.

"K.J. will be looked to as one of the leaders on the O-line," Torrey said. "He will be moved around more in the run game because of his ability to block and pull."

Like Kirby, Redd rarely if ever came out of a game. The pair led the team with 884 snaps played apiece. Redd started all 12 games at right guard and emerged as a force in his sophomore season, earning FCS Sophomore All-America honorable mention by Hero Sports.

"I look for Justin to keep solidifying his play this year and make another jump like he did from his freshman to his sophomore year," Torrey said. "I think he can become one of the top guards at the FCS level."

Powell was the lone Spartan lineman to start at multiple positions. He started twice at center and 10 times at left guard, grading out at 93 percent for the year. His versatility has been a big asset to the squad.

"I expect Jalen to play both center and guard again this year," Torrey said. "I really feel he is the best pulling lineman in the conference."

Lipscomb, who will also be a redshirt senior in the fall, started much of the '19 season at right tackle before missing the final two games due to injury. He committed just two penalties in the 10 games in which he played.

"I'm looking for Taro to reach his full potential this year," Torrey said. "We want him to show that he's one of the most athletic tackles in the MEAC."

One thing for the Spartans to figure out is who replaces Jordan at center. Powell is a contender there, but there are several other players who figure to battle for time. The other candidates include junior Colby Byrd, senior Josh Culberson, sophomore D'Montre' Smith, redshirt freshman Elijah Hale and true freshman Desmond Williams.

Culberson is the most experienced of the group, having played in 10 games in his career. According to Torrey, Culberson is the only linemen capable of playing all five spots up front.

Smith started two games at right tackle last year, but has the ability to help out inside, as well. Byrd sat out the year and Hale redshirted.

Other names to watch include rising senior Ian Williams, who started twice at left guard early in the season. He battled an injury later in the season, but has experience playing inside. NSU also added UConn transfer Jeff Woods, who projects to battle for time at tackle and was a three-star high school recruit. Woods is one of three new line recruits, along with 6-4 rookies Desmond Williams from Illinois and Baron Franks II from South Carolina.

All told, Torrey has an experienced group which offers depth, size and versatility. But he still sees room for growth from that unit.

"I still think we can work on improving communication and committing fewer penalties," Torrey said. "I want to keep building the identity that we are one of the top lines in the conference: tough, well-conditioned, violent and able to protect the ball and run it against anyone."